Because being a vertical swinger means you're in the minority, you've probably been offered a lot of advice about how to improve your golf game. Have other golfers told you that your backswing needs to go to parallel or that you need to turn more to see improvement? I'll bet they have, but that doesn't mean you should listen!
I hear this from students all the time. None of their playing buddies can accept the fact that a vertical swing is actually the superior swing. That's why you've got to be able to defend the Peak Performance Golf Swing with facts and results. Peg recently teed it up with two older men and heard comments the whole round about what to do in order to become a better player. Instead of conforming to their constant instructions, she simply sat back and watched as the two gentlemen repeatedly swung into the sacred burial ground, a move that we all know will lead to back pain.
Don,
I have to tell you this story. I have only been golfing for the last 4 years and I use your swing and all your wonderful tips for the game. Being a female and 58, I have found this game to be great exercise for my core and my mental health with no negative effect on my back. To the story...
I was alone at the club and invited to join Harold and his brother Sid. Sid was 66 and Harold was north of 70. They called me "young lady" and Harold insisted that I should be hitting down on the ball because I was hitting up on the ball (his words)!!!! I was overjoyed. Sid turned so far and put that club so deep in the sacred burial ground that I wondered if he will require back surgery soon. He actually hit the ball well but it hurt me to watch his swing. Wow, I feel like I could join you on a video - LOL!!!
Peg
Don't be afraid to be different. If someone tells you that your swing is too vertical, simply say thank you and that it's actually your intent to swing that way. You became a vertical swinger for a reason, and this swing is the only swing that falls under the laws of physics and the way the human body is designed to move. If anything, you should be trying to convince them to change their swings!
Keep it vertical and be proud of it!
The Surge
If you can't view the YouTube video above try CLICKING HERE. You must allow popups from this site for the link to work.
Comments
(Un)wanted Advice
I play golf with a good buddy. We know each other really well, and we both swing it vertical. Yea! While my swing is not the greatest (yet), my friend can hit the ball a long way - just not always at the right target. Before we play, I ask him if it's OK if I make suggestions during the round. He agrees.
So, three things I will observe about his swings:
1. He may tee the ball up a little too high. I have prevented him many a pop-up drive as a result.
2. He tends to push his shots, so I get him setup in an alignment where the ball will go straight down the fairway.
3. If he gets laid off, he will tend to hook the crud out of the ball. When he stays vertical, it's a gorgeous golf shot.
And if he hits a bad shot, I tell him what the Surge says: "Don't worry about what you did wrong. Just do it right!" And he will more time than not. And I'm not too bad of a coach.
Law #7
"The higher a golfer’s handicap,
the more qualified he deems himself as an instructor."
Yep. We see it and hear it on every visit to the links.
Some newby or fellow struggler will be enlightened, unsolicited,
by one much more skilled then they.
The results will be somewhat predictable, and it's
usually pretty stinkin' ugly.
L2 UPDATE
Robert,
Thought you might be interested in how my lesson with John went. We met at a course close to his area around 11am Tue and spent a little over an hour on the practice green. One of the first things he did was take away my 36" putter and give me a 33" one in it's place. I could not believe the difference between the two putters. Simply chocking down to the 33" mark with the 36" was no where close to the same feel. I honestly mean these feel like two entirely different putters. I leave the whys and wherefores to John and simply thank him for the correction. We then worked on several of the drills he uses to incorporate the shoulders only pendulum stroke. I left the lesson a happy fellow. I was fairly sure on the drive up that I would not be bringing the L2 back home with me, but I never dreamed that I would be bringing home a shorter one more suited to my body fit. I wonder if others know anything about this fitted clubs stuff. I can now say I am somewhere between like and love with the new L2. Played in a scramble earlier today and was pleased when others suggested that I putt last because I seemed to be putting the best out of the group. I did get another hour on the practice green before play though, working on the drills John covered yesterday. Thank you John, I was a happy putter today, making several the others missed. Now, if I could just do something about the rest of my game.
L2 UPDATE
Terry,
Interesting comments on the difference between the 36" and 33" shafts on your L2 putter. It would be interesting to know what length I would need at 5' 5" tall with a WTF of 32" exactly? Hmmm! I will now re-think that subject. Would hate to order the wrong one from long distance : - (
Still a work in progress for Christmas..... ; - ] Glad it is paying dividends for you. Having a personal lesson a definite advantage. Long may it continue to improve your scores. DH
L2 LENGTH
DH,
It would probably be a good idea to actually contact John through his web site and follow his advice for a proper fit. He also lists his cell phone on the site for personal calls. I based my first length on personal preference with very different old putters, that was a big mistake, but one that has since been corrected. John follows the blog from time to time so he might even respond to your last post. Though we are very different in height measurements, I'm just shy of 6', our WTF is only 2.5" difference, mine being 34.5" It is a putter I am now happy to recommend to all, when properly fit, and properly used.
L2 LENGTH
Terry,
Thankyou for your reply. I will follow your advice when the time is right. That will be after convincing my caddy/wife that it is a must ; - ) I am sure you will get my drift. It makes sense to be properly fitted, no doubt in my mind at all. When I viewed the website a few weeks ago, I wrote down the contact details for nearer the time. Thanks again Terry, I value your recommendation a lot. DH
L2 and putter length
Terry,
I thought of you today knowing you were having a lesson with John. How cool. Dang, would have liked to have been there. Glad to hear you had such a positive experience. He switch you into a 33 inch eh? Though I have the 35 inch and have been putting well with it I have felt from the first week with the L2 that 33 would have been more effective. I always choke down 2 inches. Hmmnnn.....You read my mind, I may ask John if I can switch to the 33. I am really glad you are more comfortable with it now and have a couple of drills to aid your practice sessions. If you could described them for us do tell:)
On another note, I re-shafted the Sooolong and brought it along with my two new Alien wedges (56*+60*). Wanted to hit the range first to test all three but used the driver for the first time on #1 tee and the wedges as needed(also for the first time). So so with that driver. Think I need to take an inch off the shaft. I used the 56 and 60 out of the sand 4 times. All four times the ball came out beautifully. What??!! I love them Terry. Thanks for that recomendation. Of those 4 sand shots, two were left with 3-4 foot putts and the others were 6 and 20 feet. Made three out of four including the 20 footer with the L2.
On the par 5 #9 I had 50 yards left to the pin on my third shot. Okay, time to test out the 60*. Landed just a couple feet short of the green and 12 feet from the hole. 9 iron chip time. Bingo, rolled it in for my only birdy of the day. Again, thumbs up on the Aliens. Funny, I looked at the ads several times for many years but agter your recommendation I took the plunge.
Good deal on RockBottomGolf.com.
Great stuff Terry, now Ohio is the epicenter of golf for the next 4 days.
L2 Drills
Robert,
Glad to hear you are liking your new Alien sand wedges. I have been recommending mine for over 20 years now. If you can hit behind the ball and follow through, you can get the ball out of the bunkers. I am not liking my Sooolong as much as you and Dick seem to be, but in all fairness I haven't spent any significant time with it yet, just hit it a few times during play so far. I need some range time with it before I make any shaft decisions.
Just sitting around watching the Presidents Cup today. I was surprised to see the USA up in all the matches when I turned on the tube about an hour or so ago.
As for the L2 drills, they are the same ones covered in Johns videos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6v2nAcECG7Y
The push drills with both one and two balls. The look at the hole and the putter head drills. Working with the supplied metronome. He liked a 59 beat for me. Also working on the forward press to initiate the stroke. John doesn't mention the forward press in this video, but if you watch his hands you will clearly see his constant use of it.
As for the chocking down. That is what I was doing with the 36". The chocking down actually inhibits the forward press, or at least it did for me. John recommends holding the grip all the way to the top without chocking down, for a more free forward press. If I were you I would definitely contact him and get his opinion on the subject and your possible switch to a shorter version. I could not believe the difference in feel from chocking down to 33 on a 36 and holding a 33 at its top of the grip with my right hand. I use left hand low positioning. I'm really starting to like this putter.
L2
Terry,
I just e mailed John about a 33 switch out for my 35. I understand your logic (and John's) about a gentle forward press if the hands are near the end rather than choking up 2 inches. Hopefully I will make the switch if John agrees. He is quite a nice guy and I'm sure your session was with a fellow Ohioian:)
Going to take another ich off my Sooolong today before today's afternoon round. It is about 45.25 and 44 is normally optimal for me.
Wedges? Golden:)
Note: For anyone looking at those wedges, I actually got their latest the Ray Cook Shot Savers.
http://www.rockbottomgolf.com/ray-cook-golf-shot-saver-alien-wedge.html
Hi Robert and Terry
I enjoyed my meeting with Terry. It is easy find solutions when you are working with a golfer who really seeks answers. We had a good session together.
as for the length, since the club weighs the same at 33" or 36", the difference comes in where the weight lies. The shorter putter puts your hands at the end of the grip which will place most of the weight below your hands. Any portion of the grip that extends above your hands will act as a counter balance and make it easier to apply whrists to the stroke while it lessons the momentum.
The counter balance idea of a putter does help former chest putters sometimes, but only when they are applying a good triangle pendulum motion.
Terry had a well developed stroke for the reverse grip, but we tried to use a standard grip a few times and his right hand and wrist was very controlling, so we went back to the reverse grip.
The drills we used, as Terry stated, are the ones on the video. I did emphasize the forward press to start the backstroke though, which helps increase distance energy. The forward press gives you some tempo to start the motion and also gets the club going with more of a push of the left arm, rather than a pull of the right. It also slightly de-lofts the face slightly which also adds to the distance energy.
Good luck, stay in touch, and thanks
John, Terry, Booger and ........
Just two little inches. Okay so I realized that I would prefer to have my L2 at 33 inches rather than 35. After communicating with John I felt I could carefully blow the grip off as I do all my other grips (on and off) without harming the grip if done ever so cautiously. No problem. Because the 16 inch grip had originally been put on traditionally with sticky gripping tape It took a little patience as I worked it side to side while blowing air in spurts at 125 psi. Finally worked it's way free and came right off. Took that attachment off the air hose and replaced it with my handy small circular saw which is ideal for shaft cutting and was ready to take the two inches off. Sparks flew as I zipped off 2 inches. Before putting the grip back on I weighed it and it came out as 194gr. Close enough to the web sites 200gr. BTW the 2 inches off was 6 grams. Special care was taken to clamp the shaft in the vise so the putter heads face would be 100% square to the lines of the square 1 inch grip as I blew it back on. All done in about 15 minutes. Have I said I love my air compressor? Do it yourself strikes again:)
So I didn't need to persuade John to switch me out for the 33 inch version after all. Thanks for the inspiration John and Terry. Now when I set up to my putter my hands drop down comfortably near the butt end the grip. No more choking down needed. Looking forward to testing it out asap.
The adventure continues.......
and.....
Robert, Happy to hear you were able to shorten the putter shaft without any trouble. I made a couple of circuits around Limestone Springs practice green today. Only problem I had was on some really long ones back up the slope,where I didn't allow for it as much as I should. Made one beauty at 42',most where anywhere from the 15-20 range as I zig-zagged around the green. I really like mine & don't see me shortening it. Mine is the 35" model,really works well for me,guess being 6'2" comes in handy some time.
6'2" and the L2
Booger,
Funny (or not) I was a fraction under 6 foot at 20 years old and now at 56 about 5'10 1/2. One of Gods fun tricks is we get gradually shorter. Any how I couldn't wait a minute longer so I headed to the practice green just before dark and tried out my L2 at 33 inches. Love it. makes the forward press and pendulum easier just as Terry and John mentioned. First putt was about 45 feet. Finished 6 inches from the cup. Second to another hole was of about 25 feet. Tracked straight in on my chosen line. Continued putting for about 15 minutes as the light disappeared. Left most either in or tap in distance.
Really satisfied with it. I hadn't found time to comment today and also read your other entry on good play with all but the hybrid and 3 wood right?
Who knows Boog. I know some days I hit my woods great and others I think an imposter has over taken my hands and body! If the problem persists and it is only one or two clubs perhaps a tune up club check with Doc may be in order. I know you have gone through some physical stuff and are recently getting back into it so we are dynamically changing all the time. Are swing and speed can subtly change too so maybe another shaft is in order. Only guessing pal. Hang in there as maybe it's a temporary set back and next time out you'll strip 'em out there. Meanwhile being 6'2" likely has served you well:)
Occasionally short
Because we are tuning in our distance measuring ability more now and relating it to backstroke size, it is sometimes easy to forget the uphill or downhill read. Visually seeing the hole beyond its actual distance can add some backstroke size to your stroke in order to compensate for the hill.
To the contrary, visually projecting the cup short of the actual spot, can aid in the downhill putt by adjusting the energy transfer to the ball.
It seems like a minor idea, but by doing this little adjustment, you will be seeing the putt distance rather than relying on the "mental calculation". This is where binocular vision takes over which is our "natural action" thought.
Thanks, John
Thanks for the nice tip about my coming up short on those uphill putts,John.
I'll be sure to try that my next time on the practice green,which may be mid-week at the earliest since we have that tropical storm coming in some time tomorrow.
I am loving my L2, just the weight alone and the steadiness I have with it over as compared to my Boccieri Mid-weight is awesome. I will say this because you mentioned in an earlier post reply,doing the push drill after working through my bag on the range was tough. Took me a couple of rounds of three balls before I was able to get it started without any effort. I was pretty well gassed from my range work.
tip
I am glad you are enjoying the L2. Good luck with the weather and stay dry.
If you have any questions let me know.
Advise or not advise
I used to play a lot of golf with a friend (he's given up the game), who had a real problem with advice. He refused to hear anything about his swing, which was more than okay with me. After he'd hit a bad shot, he'd start asking what he did wrong and I'd ask if he really wanted to know; he'd say no. As we'd make the turn, he'd be ready to quit and would ask what I thought he was doing wrong; he's a BIG rotational swinger and had to have the latest and greatest of equipment. Although he was a 7.2 handicap and I was a 15 at the time, I would routinely beat him straight up. After I would explain what his probem was (trying to hit too hard, usually), he would play 10, 11, and often 12 really well, and then fall off the tracks. At that point, I wouldn't say anything else because he would go into a rage at how bad his game and his clubs were.
I have two of his Cleveland wedges (which I love) because he threw them away. He finally quit because everything he tried made his back, knees, and neck hurt more and more. He went to the chiropractor at least once a week. Last time I saw him, about 7 months ago, he refused to talk about golf at all.
Giving advice to a friend is not necessarily the best thing to do. I was qualified to give him advice since I had watched his swing evolve for over 30 years and could easily recognize when he would do something different. More often than not, my problem and his would be similar - frustration at not being able to figure out what was wrong. Then, I found PPGS, quit worrying about what was wrong, and started concentrating on what I was supposed to do. Golf then became more enjoyable.
BTW: I finally got the okay to start swinging. The doctor said to stay with no more that 3/4 swings until I see him again next month ;-D) I told him it would not be a problem. When he asked why, I told him about the PPGS again (he doesn't play golf). He said it sounded like a very good way to play. I'm only getting to just short of shoulder height with my hands, but I'm making good contact. I guess I'm stuck doing the "torture drill" for a while.
Advise or not advise?
Kevin,
Great news that you are able to swing the magic wands again : - ] A chuckle when I read the last line. "I guess I'm stuck doing the 'torture drill' for a while! Reason? Just back in after swinging on the front yard driving range mat. Guess what my warm up session was? The very same drill ; - )
After the session, back into the house and 'turfed' all the clubs out of the bag and replaced them with my oldest set! Reason? I was swinging them well and liked the feel of them. Have been mixing and matching clubs for a short while, with some interesting results. The only club not to change is the putter. Fingers,toes and eyes crossed they will perform on our next outing to the course : - )
Advise or not advise? My biggest problem returning to golf after so long away from it, was "overdoing" just about everything. Then of course you are not like that ; - ] All the very, very best with your progress. May you hit them consistently longer and straighter. DH
Advice
Rarely does anyone try to give me advice.
It's either that they think (or know) that there is no hope for me anyway or they've heard me tell somebody in the past that I don't want to hear it while I'm playing (in no uncertain terms).
I don't mind talking about swings (or my swing) and I might even take some advice and give it a try but NOT on the course.
Funny thing is that from what I see the golfers that like to give advice the most aren't even any good. They are usually the ones that constantly read up on the latest golf tips and have very few thoughts of their own. They rarely break 80 or if they do it's from up tees.
I've played a lot this summer with two golf pros and neither of them has ever said a word about my swing or offered any advice at all.
Presidents Cup
Any predictions out there?
I think the Internationals will give the USA all it can handle and the US will squeeze out a win on Sunday. Going to be close. Really looking forward to Speith and Striker.
10 PPGS Drills
Several years back, I know that I had downloaded an item from the PPGS website, that was called, simply, "10 drills". I seem to have lost the program on my computer, and, I do not see it offered anywhere on the website. Does anyone else remember this offering, or the components of it? Art
you not thinking of the 14
you not thinking of the 14 drills video? available in the video section